Cleated plywood box



May 24, 1955 J. w. LADD CLEATED PLYWOOD BOX 2 She-ets-Sheef.

Filed May 4, 1951 May 24, 1955 J. w. LADD v 2,709,020

CLEATED PLYwooD Box Filed May 4, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N V EN TOR.

United States Patent G CLEATED PLYWOOD BOX John W. Ladd, Oak Park, lll.

Application May 4, 1951, Serial No. 224,471

4 Claims. (Cl. 217-12) This invention relates to cleated plywood boxesfor packaging and shipment purposes.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved cleatedplywood box which will take prolonged rough handling and keep majorshock away from its contents, which is strong but yet light in weight,which presents a smooth interior, which has minimum overall dimensionswith maximum internal dimensions, which may be shipped and stored inknockdown condition or partially assembled nested condition therebysaving storage and shipping space, which is simple to assemble withoutthe use of nails or the like, which may be readily filled and packed inpartially assembled condition, which may be quickly opened, which may bereadily opened for inspection purposes and the like and readily reclosedwithout impairment of box strength, which utilizes a minimum of lumberfootage, which eliminates the necessity for metal hardware such ashinges or hasps, and which is inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

Brieiiy, the cleated plywood box of this invention includes a first pairof opposed side members each including a plywood panel and a cleatsecured at each end edge of the panel on the inside thereof andextending beyond the side edges. lt also includes a second pair ofopposed side members each including a plywood panel and a cleat securedat each side edge of the panel on the inside thereof. It furtherincludes a pair of opposed end members each including a plywood paneland a block at each of two opposed edges of the panel on the outsidethereof which extend over said edges and terminate short of the exposededges. These members are preferably all prefabricated and the variouscleats and blocks maybe permanently secured to the plywood panels as byclinch nailing. This assures strong box members capable of roughhandling which may be readily and inexpensively manufactured on aproduction basis. These prefabricated members may be stored and shippedin knockdown condition which atords considerable saving in handlingcost.

ln assembling the cleated plywood box of this invention the cleats ofone of the second pair of opposed side members are located outside ofthe first pair of opposed side members and overlie the side edges of thepanels thereof. If desired, at this stage, the first pair of opposedside members may be nailed by four unclinched nails to the other sidemember to lend stability to this subassembly for stability in lling andpacking. In fact, this sub-assembly may be preformed and stored andshipped in nested condition. The pair of opposed end members are thenlocated in place with the cleats of the rst pair of opposed side memberslocated on the outside of the end members and overlying the exposed sideedges of the panels thereof. These same cleats'also extend over the endedges of the panel of the side member of the second pair of sidemembers. The blocks of the pair of opposed end members extend betweenthe cleats of the tirst pair of opposed side members and also extendover the end edges of the panel of the side member of the second pair ofside members. The box thus ice far assembied includes three side membersand two end members arranged together by the cleats so that it may bereadily filled and packed, even by production packing methods if sodesired. The box may also be lled and packed before the end members areset in place.

After the box is lled or packed then the other side member of the secondpair of opposed side members is put in place completely to enclose thecontents of the box. Here the cleats of that side member overlie theside edges of the panels of the first pair of opposed side members andthe cleats of the first pair of opposed side members and the blocks ofthe pair of opposed end members extend over the end edge of that sidemember. The box is secured in assembled relation by securing togetherthe two pairs of side members and this may be readily accomplished byencircling the side members with straps or the like.

The necessity for nailing in assembly is eliminated and the resultingbox is considerably stronger and will take more prolonged rough handlingthan a conventional nailed box. The various cleats, blocks and plywoodpanels all functionally cooperate with each other toward this end. Thebox has stability of internal and external shape and distortionalstresses are shared by adjacent panel members and supporting cleats.There is balanced resistance to diagonal distortion and to edgecompression and also great resistance to splitting. There are no opencracks at any of the joints between the various members.'

Further objects of this invention reside in the details of constructionof the cleated plywood box of this inven-- tion and in the cooperativerelationships between the component parts thereof.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art upon reference to the accompanyingspeciiication, claims and drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of one form of the cleated plywood box ofthis invention;

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the side and endmembers utilized in forming the box of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is Va vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line5-5 of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating another form of the cleatedplywood box of this invention;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line7-7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 88 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 9 is a partial perspective view illustrating still another form ofthe cleated plywood box of this invention.

Referring iirst to Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings, there is illustratedone form of the cleated plywood box of this invention, this box beinggenerally designated at 10. It includes a first pair of opposed sidemembers 11 and 12, a second pair of opposed side members 21 and 22 and apair of opposed end members 30 and 31. These members are allprefabricated and then are later assembled together for packaging andshipping purposes.

The side member 11 of the first pair of opposed side members includes aplywood panel 13 and a cleat 14 secured at each end edge of the panel 13on the inside thereof. The cleats 14 extend beyond the side edges of thepanel 13. A plurality of cleats 15 are also secured on the outside ofthe panel 13 and these cleats terminate short of the side edges of thepanel 13. In a like manner the other opposed side members 12 includes aplywood panel 16 and a cleat 17 secured at each end edge of the panel 16on the inside thereof. Here also the cleats 17 extend beyond the sideedges of the panel 16. A plurality of cleats 18 are also secured to theoutside of the panel 16 and these cleats terminate short of the sideedges of the panel 16. The various cleats are permanently secured to thepanels as by clinch nailing, designated at 19. ln this way the cleatsare permanently and secured fastened to the panels.

The side member 21 of the second pair of opposed side members includes aplywood panel 23 having a cleat 24 secured at each side edge of thepanel 23 on the inside thereof. The cleats 24 extend beyond the endedges of the panel 23. ln a like manner the other side member 22includes a plywood panel 25 having a cleat 26 secured to each side edgethereof on the inside thereof. The cleats of these Side members arepermanently secured to the panels, as by means of clinch nailing 27.

The end member 3G of the pair of opposed end members includes-a plywoodpanel 32 and a block 33 secured at each of two opposed edges of thepanel on the outside thereof. These blocks 33 extend over those twoopposed edges and also terminate short of the exposed edges. In a likemanner the other end member 31 includes a plywood panel 34 and a block35 secured at each of two opposed edges thereon on the outside thereof.The blocks 35 extend over those opposed edges and also terminate shortof the other exposed edges. The blocks are permanently secured to thepanels, as by means of clinch nailing 36. The blocks 33 may be providedwith suitable holes 37 for carrying a rope handle 33, the handle, whennot in use,

resting on the panel 32 between the blocks 33. A similar rope handle maybe provided on the other end member 31.

In assembling the cleated plywood box of this invention the first pairof opposed side members 11 and 12 are placed in position on the sidemember 21 of the second pair of opposed side members. The cleats 24 arelocated on the outside of the first pair of opposed side members 11 and12 and overlie the side edges of the panels 13 and 16 thereof. Thecleats 14 and 17 extend over the end edges of the panel 23 and the endsof the outside cleats 15 may abut against the cleats 24. If desired, atthis stage, the first pair of opposed side members 11 and 12 may benailed to the other side member 21 and this may be accomplished bydriving four nails 46 through the extending ends of the cleats 24 andthrough the panels 13 and 16 into the cleats 14 and 17. This lendsstability to this sub-assembly for the purposes of filling and packingthe same. In fact, this sub-assembly may be preformed and stored andshipped in nested condition, thereby saving considerable space in sodoing.

The pair of opposed end members 3i) and 31 are then set in place. Herethe cleats 14 and 17 of the first pair of opposed side members arelocated on the outside of the end members 30 and 31 and overlie theexposed side edges of the panels 32 and 34 thereof. The blocks 33 and 354 extend over the end edges of the panel 23 and also extend between thecleats 14 and 17. Thus, the blocks 33 and 35 and the cleats 14 and 17securely locate the end members 30 and 31. The blocks thus far assembledinclude three side members and two end members arranged together by thecleats and blocks so that it may be readily filled and packed, even byproduction packing methods if so desired.

After the box is filled or packed then the other side member 22 of thesecond pair of opposed side members is put in place completely toenclose the contents of the box. Here the cleats 26 of the side member22 overlie the side edges of the panels 13 and 16 of the first pair ofopposed side members and the blocks 33 and 35 of the pair of opposed endmembers extend over the end edges of the panel 25. The box is secured inassembled relation by securing together the two pairs of side members11, 12, 21 and 22 in any suitable manner. For example, this may bereadily accomplished by encircling the side members with conventionalstraps 41 or the like. To secure the straps 41 tightly in place theoverlapping ends of the straps may be crimped, as, for example, at 42,and encased in a sleeve 43. Preferably, the straps overlie the outsidecleats 15 and 18 secured on the first pair of opposed end members 11 and12. The assembled and strapped box is extremely strong and will takeprolonged rough handling and keep major shock away from its contents.

By reason of the construction of the cleated plywood box of thisinvention there is no necessity for nailing during assembly and theresulting box is considerably stronger than a conventional nailed box.The Various cleats, blocks and plywood panels all functionally cooperatewith each other toward this end. The box is extremely stable andmaintains its internal and external shape. Distortional stresses aresharped by the adjacent panel members and the supporting cleats. Thereis balanced resistance to diagonal distortion and to edge compressionand also great resistance to splitting. There are no open cracks at anyof the joints between the various members.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 6 to 8 is essentially thesame as that of Figs. l to 5 and like reference characters have beenutilized for like parts. 1n the cleated plywood box of Figs. 6 to 8 thecleats 24 and 26 of the second pair of opposed side members terminateshort at the end of the panels 23 and 25. Here also outside cleats 45and 46 are clinch nailed, as at 47, to the ends of the panels 13 and 16and to the inside cleats 14 and 17. The outside cleats 45 and 46 extendbeyond the side edges of the panels 13 and 16 and extend over the panels23 and 25 of the second pair of opposed side members. The ends of thecleats 24 and 26 of the second pair of opposed side members abut againstthese outside cleats 45 and 46. The box of Figs. 6 to 8 is assembled,filled, and packed in the same manner as the box of Figs. l to 5.

The form of the box of Fig. 9 is very much like the form of the box ofFigs. l to 5 and like reference characters have been utilized for likeparts. Here the cleats 24 and 26 of the second pair of opposed endmembers also extend beyond the end edges of the panels 23 and 25.Outside cleats 49 and 50 are secured to the panels 13 and 16 of the rstpair of opposed side members, these outside cleats 49 and 50 terminatingshort of the side edges of those panels. The outside cleats 49 and 50may be permanently secured in place, as by clinch nailing 47. When thebox is assembled the ends of the outside cleats 49 and 50 abut againstthe extended cleats 24 and 26 of the second pair of opposed sidemembers. The box of Fig. 9 is assembled, filled, and packed in the samemanner as the box of Figs. 1 to 5.

While for purposes of illustration several forms of this invention havebeen disclosed, other forms thereof may become apparent to those skilledin the art upon reference to this disclosure and, therefore, thisinvention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

1 claim as my invention:

l. A cleated plywood box comprising, a first pair of opposed sidemembers each including a plywood panel and a cleat secured at each endedge of the panel on the inside thereof and extending beyond the sideedges, a second pair of opposed side members each including a plywoodpanel and a cleat secured at each side edge of the panel on the insidethereof, and a pair of opposed end members each including a plywoodpanel and a block secured at each of two opposed edges of the panel onthe outside thereof and extending over said opposed edges andterminating short of the remaining exposed edges, the cleats of thesecond pair of opposed side members being located outside of the firstpair of opposed side members and overlying the side edges of the panelsthereof, the cleats of the rst pair of opposed side members beinglocated on the outside of and over the exposed edges of the pair ofopposed end members and overlying the exposed side edges of the panelsof the second pair of side members, the blocks of the pair of opposedend members extending between and contacting the cleats of the firstpair of opposed side members and extending over the end edges of thesecond pair of opposed side members, and means for securing the secondpair of opposed side members to the first pair of opposed side members.

2. A cleated plywood box comprising, a first pair of opposed sidemembers each including a plywood panel and a cleat secured at each endedge of the panel on the inside thereof and extending beyond the sideedges, a second pair of opposed side members each including a plywoodpanel and cleat secured at each side edge of the panel on the insidethereof and extending beyond the end edges, and a pair of opposed endmembers each including a plywood panel and a block secured at each oftwo opposed edges of the panel on the outside thereof and extending oversaid opposed edges and terminating short of the remaining exposed edges,the cleats of the second pair of opposed side members being locatedoutside of the first pair of opposed side members and overlying the sideedges of the panels thereof and extending throughout the lengths of thefirst pair of opposed side members, the cleats of the first pair ofopposed side members being located on the outside of the pair of opposedend members and overlying the exposed side edges of the panels thereofand also extending over the end edges of the panels of the second pairof side members, the blocks of the pair of opposed end members extendingbetween and contacting the cleats of the rst pair of opposed sidemembers and extending over the end edges of the second pair of opposedside members, and means for securing the second pair of opposed sidemembers to the first pair of opposed side members.

3. A cleated plywood box comprising, a first pair of opposed sidemembers each including a plywood panel, a cleat secured at each end edgeof the panel on the inside thereof and extending beyond the side edgesand a cleat secured at each end edge of the panel on the outside thereofand extending beyond the side edges, a second pair of opposed sidemembers each including a plywood panel and a cleat secured at each sideedge ot' the panel on the inside thereof and terminating at the endedges, and a pair of opposed end members each including a plywood paneland a block secured at each of two opposed edges of the panel on theoutside thereof and extending over said opposed edges and terminatingshort of the remaining exposed edges, the cleats of the second pair ofopposed side members being located outside of the first pair of opposedside members and overlying the side edges of the panels thereof andextending between and contacting the outside cleats of the first pair ofopposed side members, the inside cleats of the first pair of sidemembers being located on the outside of the pair of opposed end membersand overlying the exposed side edges of the panels thereof, the insideand outside cleats of the first pair of opposed side members extendingover the edges of the panels of the second pair of side members, theblocks of the pair of opposed end members extending between andcontacting the inside cleats of the first pair of side members andextending over the end edges of the second pair of opposed side members,and means for securing the second pair of opposed side members to therst pair of opposed side members.

4. A cleated plywood box comprising, a first pair of opposed sidemembers each including a plywood panel, a cleat secured at each end edgeof the panel on the inside thereof and extending beyond the side edgesand a cleat secured at each end edge of the panel on the outside thereofand terminating short of the side edges, a second pair of opposed sidemembers each including a plywood panel and a cleat secured at each sideedge of the panel on the inside thereof and extending beyond the endedges, and a pair of opposed end members each including a plywood paneland a block secured at each of two opposed edges of the panel on theoutside thereof and extending over said opposed edges and terminatingshort of the remaining exposed edges, the cleats of the second pair ofopposed side members being located outside of the first pair of opposedside members and overlying the side edges of the panels thereof andextending throughout the length of the first pair of opposed sidemembers, the inside cleats of the first pair of opposed side membersbeing located on the outside of' the pair of opposed end members andoverlying the exposed side edges of the panels thereof and alsoextending over the end edges of the panels of the second pair of sidemembers, the outside cleats of the rst pair of opposed side membersextending between and contacting the cleats of the second pair ofopposed side members, the blocks of the pair of opposed end membersextending between and contacting the inside cleats of the first pair ofside members and extending over the end edges of the second pair ofopposed side members, and means for securing the second pair of opposedside members to the first pair of opposed side members.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,198,872 Schrader Sept. 19, 1916 1,309,341 Ritter July 8, 19191,616,618 Gaylord Feb. 8, 1927 1,652,887 Cobb Dec. 13, 1927 2,533,663Byers Dec. 12, 1950

